Playing apparatus for musical instruments.



J. F. KELLY.v

PLAYING APPARATUS FOR MUSGAL INSTRUMENTS.

APPLICATION FILED 1120.6, 1907.

1,106,819. Patented Aug. 11, 1914.

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J, F. KELLY.

PLAYING APPARATUS POR MUSICAL INSTRUMENTS.

APPLICATION FILED DBO. 6, 19o?.

1,106,819. I Patented Aug. 11,1914

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o 0 I o n n i UU U o fs In; MORRIS PETERS CO., IHorO-LITHO.. WASHINGTON,D. Cv

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

JOHN F. KELLY, OF PITTSFIELD, MASSACHUSETTS.

PLAYING APPARATUS FOR MUSICAL INSTRUMENTS.

To all whom it may concern.'

Be it known that I, JOHN F. KELLY, a citizen of the United States,residing at Pittsfield, county of Berkshire, and State of Massachusetts,have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Playing Apparatusfor Musical Instruments, fully described and represented in thefollowing specification and the accompanying drawings, forming a part ofthe same.

This invention relates to automatic playing apparatus for musicalinstruments of that class in which the operation of the apparatus forcausing the sounding of the tones by the musical instrument iscontrolled by a so-called music sheet in which the various notes arerepresented by suitable actuating or controlling devices, usuallyperforations, positioned transversely of the sheet to determine theparticular tones to be sounded, and lengthwise of the sheet according tothe time and succession of the tones.

The object of the invention is to provide for accenting or increasingthe loudness of certain tones relatively to other tones of a piece orcomposition played by means of such an automatic playing apparatus. Thisresult is secured in accordance with the invention by providing thecontrolling mechanism of the playing apparatus with a plurality of setsor series, preferably two sets or series, of controlling devices, thedevices of each set being arranged in series together, and the twoseries or sets being arranged end'wise to each other in adjacentposition, the operation of the controlling devices of one of which setsor series of controlling devices causes the production of louder tonesthan are produced by the operationof the controlling devices of theother set or series; and by providing for controlling the operation ofsuch controlling devices a music sheet having its note perforations or.other controlling devices divided into two sets located in differentlongitudinal zones of the sheet, the perforations of one set includingthose corresponding to tones to be accented, and the perforations of theother set including those corresponding to other tones of the musicalcomposition, and the perforations of each set being arranged in theirrespective zone transversely of the sheet according to the correspondingset or series of controlling devices of the controlling mechanism toproduce the desired tones, and longitudinally of the sheet ac-Specication of Letters Patent.

Application filed December 6, 1907.

Patented Aug. 11, 1914.

Serial No. 405,381.

cording to the succession, time and duration of the tones to be sounded.lVith such a controlling mechanism and music sheet, if the theme ormelody of a musical composition 1s to be brought `out or accented, theperforations in the music sheet corresponding to the tones of the themeor melody will be cut in the zone of the sheet corresponding to the setor series of controlling devices which cause the production of thelouder tones, while the perforations corresponding to the remainingnotes of the composition will be cut in the other zone of the musicsheet which corresponds to the set or series of controlling deviceswhich produce the softer' tones or tones of normal loudness or strength.So, also, if all or any part of the tones of a particular portion of thecomposition are to be accented or played with increased strength, theperforations corresponding to such portion of the composition, or theparticular tones thereof to be accented, will be cut in the zone of themusic sheet corresponding to the set or series of controlling deviceswhich cause the production of the louder tones. The invention providesthen for accenting or increasing the loudness of the piece orcomposition as a whole or any part thereof, for increasing the strengthor loudness of particular tones or series of tones relatively to othersplayed before or after such tones or series of tones, and also foremphasizing one or more of a plurality of simultaneously sounded tones.The invention is considered to be especially of importance in providinga simple and reliable way to secure the emphasizing of particular tonesplayed simultaneously with other tones, thus enabling the melody ortheme of a composition to be brought out or emphasized above theaccompaniment or other part of the composition.

The invention is preferably employed in connection with electricallyoperated sheet controlled apparatus in which the tone producing devicesof the piano or other musical instrument are actuated by the operationof suitably connected electromagnets, and the inventio-n in some of itsfeatures relates especially to such apparatus. In applying the inventionto playing apparatus of this class, a single set of operating magnets,one for each of the tone-producing devices to be operated, is preferablyemployed, the connection of the magnets and controlling devices beingsuch that each magnet may be energized through the operation of one ofthe controlling devices of each set or series above referred to, so thatwhen any one of the magnets is energized through the operation of lthecorresponding controlling device of the set or `series of controllingdevices intended to cause the production of the louder tones, itsmagneto-motive force will be greater than when energized through theoperation of a controlling device in the other set or series. Thisresult is preferably secured by making the electrical connections suchthat the electromotive force impressed on the magnet circuits by theoperation of the controlling devices of the set or series intended tocause the production of the louder tones will be greater than theelectroinotive force impressed on the magnet circuits by the operationof the controlling devices of the other set or series. This is readilyaccomplished in an apparatus similar to that shown in United StatesLetters Patent No. 753,809 granted March l, 1904-, for improvements inautomatic playing apparatus for musical instruments, on an applicationof T. B. Powers and M. R. Jewell, by providing separate contact bars forthe contact devices corresponding to the controlling devices of the twosets or series, one of which contact bars is set at a permanently highervoltage than the other.

A full understanding of the invention can best be given by a detaileddescription of a construction embodying the same in the preferred form,and such a description will now be given in connection with theaccompanying drawings, in which z Figure l is a diagrammatic view of somuch as is necessary to an understanding of the invention of anautomatic playing apparatus constructed in accordance with the generalplan of the apparatus shown in said patent No.753,809,but changed andmodified in accordance with the present invention. Fig. 2 shows aportion of a perforated music sheet made in accordance with theinvention and intended for use in a construction such as is shown by thediagram, Fig. l. The music which is represented by the portion of themusic sheet in Fig. 2 is represented at the bottom of the sheetaccording to the usual system of musical notation.

Referring to the drawings, Fig. l shows at the top a series of' fingerkeys 2 representing a portion of the keyboard of apiano. Key operatingmagnets 3 are located beneath the keyboard, a magnet being provided foreach key in the actual apparatus. The key operating magnets, as shown,are of the two-pole form having a pivoted oscillating armature 1lmounted loetween the poles, and the armature of each magnet is connectedwith the under side of its corresponding key by connecting rods 12,

13, whereby when any magnet is energized and its armature rot-ated thekey with which the armature is connected will be drl vn downward tocause the operation of the corresponding tone producing device of thepiano. Each of the key operating magnets 3 is electrically connectedthrough a wire a with two contact devices of the controlling ortransmitting mechanism through which connection may be made with abattery l0 or other suitable source of electrical energy, and eachmagnet is also connected with a wire Z) which connects with the otherpole of the battery, the magnets being thus located in independentbranch circuits contre-lied by contact-devices forming part of thetransmitting or controlling mechanism.

The transmitting or controlling mechanism, as shown, comprises a seriesA of' contact fingers or rods 32t adapted to make contact with a contactbar 3l, and a second series B of similar contact lingers or rods 321adapted to make contact with the contact bar 31h, the Contact fingers ofboth series being normally held out of engagement with contact barsduring the operation of the instrument by means of rocking fingers 37which are controlled for causing or permitting the contact fingers tomake contact with the contact bars by means of a perforated music sheet30. The music sheet travels over a bridge 3d, and each of the rockingfingers .37 is provided with and supported by a trailing point 38 whichengages the music sheeton the line of its support by the bridge 3d whichis provided with transverse grooves 35 corresponding in position withthe trailing points BSso that when a perforation in the music sheetcomes beneath a trailing point the point will be allowed to projectthrough the sheet into the groove in the bridge 3d, thereby permittingthe rocking finger 37 and its corresponding contact iinger to make therequired movement to bring the contact finger into engagement with thebar 8l or Sib, as the case may be. The connections from the contactfingers 82'L and 32" to the key operating magnets 3 are through a seriesof adjustable resistai'ice devices. flach of these contact fingersconnects with a resistance coil 4G from which connection is made by oneof a series of adjustable contact terminals il to the wire leading tothe magnet windings. Fach of the operating nagnets will thus beconnected with two contact fingers, one in the series A and one in theseries B. The contact bar 31a with which the contact fingers of theseries A. make contact is connected by a wire o with a positive pole ofthe battery l0 for supplying a current of such voltage as is desired forthe production of unaccented tones. This may be, for example, a ten voltcurrent. And the contact bar 31D with which the contact fingers of theseries B make contact is connected by a wire d with a positive pole ofthe battery 10 for supplying a current of higher voltage, as forexample, a twelve volt current. When, therefore, any one of the Contactlingers 32a of the series A is caused to engage the contact bar 31,circuit will be completed to its corresponding magnet and the magnetwill be energized to operate the key to which it is connectedwith whatmay be termed normal strength to produce a tone of normal loudness. Thestrength of action of the magnet and the loudness of the tone producedwill, of course, be varied within limits through the variation of theresistance in the magnet circuits by the movement of the contactterminals 41 over the resistance coils 40, as hereinafter described. If,on the other hand, the contact finger 32 of the series B connected withthe same operating magnet 3 is caused to engage the contact bar 31", acircuit will be closed to the magnet which will be supplied with currentof a greater electromotive force and the magnet will be energized tooperate with greater strength and cause the production of a louder tone.Whenever, therefore, any of the key operating magnets are energizedthrough the operation. of the controlling devices of the series B thetones produced by the operation of the magnets will be louder than thoseproduced when the magnets are energized through the operation of thecontrolling devices of the series A. A main switch 139 is inserted inthe wire b for putting the instrument into or out of operation.

The contact terminals 41 are formed by rods carried by a movable bar 200and insulated from each other, as by making the bar 200 of suitableinsulating material. The resistance coils 40 are also insulated fromeach other, and the connection between the contact fingers 32 and 32band the rocking fingers 37 is such as to avoid electrical connectionbetween the contact fingers and the rocking fingers, as by having theends of the contact fingers inserted in suitable socket pieces 39 ofinsulating material carried by the rocking fingers. The bar 200 is mademovable for the purpose of moving the ends of the contact terminals orrods 41 over the resistance coils 40 so as to simultaneously change theresistance of all the branch circuits leading to the operating magnets,thus providing means for changing or adjusting the effective operatingstrength of such magnets to which circuits may be completed byengagement of their corresponding contact fingers with the contact bars311iL and 31h. To provide for the desired movement of the bar 200, it isshown as arranged to be moved by a pair of rocking arms 201 extendingfrom a rock shaft 202 which is rocked through an arm 203 by alongitudinally movable operating rod 204. For automatically shifting thebar 201 for controlling the resistance in the l'circuits to the keyoperating magnets, a plurality of resistance or expression controllingmagnets are provided, the circuits to which are controlled by the musicsheet. As shown, three such magnets, F, FM and P, are provided forcausing the bar 200 and the contact terminals or rods 41 to be moved tothe position of minimum resistance, medium resistance and maximumresistance, respectively. These magnets are shown as of the two-poleform with rotary armatures similar' to the key operating magnets, theirarmatures beiner connected with the operating rod 204, and theconnect-ions between their armatures and the rod 204 being such thatwhen the magnet F is energized the movement of its armature will causethe bar 200 and contact rods 41 to be shifted to the position shown inwhich the resistance coils 40 are practically or entirely cut out of thekey operating circuits, and when the magnet FM is energized, the othermagnets being dead, the movement of its armature will cause the bar 200and contact rods 41 to be shifted to an intermediate position, and whenthe magnet P is energized, the'magnets F and FM being dead, the movementof its armature will cause the bar 200 and contact rods 41 to be shiftedto the position in which all or practically all of each resistance coilwill be inserted in its corresponding circuit. The circuits to thesemagnets F, FM and P are controlled by three contact lingers 32C, whichin turn are controlled by suitably positioned perforations in the musicsheet 30, and are adapted to engage a contact bar which may be anextension of the contact bar 31", as shown. These magnets are connectedwith the negative pole of the battery through the return wire b, andeach of them is connected by a wire e with one of the contact fingers32c through one of the contact rods or terminals 41, so that when thecontactl finger 32C corresponding to either of these magnets contactswith the contact bar circuit to the magnet will be closed and theresistance device shifted accordingly. As there is no necessity ofproviding a variable resistance in these circuits, no resistance coilsare provided between the contact rods 41 with which the wires e connectand their corresponding contact fingers 32, the ends of the rods, whichfor uniformity are carried by the bar 200, making sliding contact withsuitable contact blocks 40 occupying the same position with relation tothese contact rods and the corresponding contact fingers as theresistance coils 40 occupy with relation to the contact rods and contactfingers connected in the circuits to the key operating magnets.

The apparatus as above described and as shown in Fig. 1 of the drawingsdiffers from that of said Patent No. 753,809 principally in having twoseries of circuit controlling devices for the key operating magnets, andoircuit connections between the hey operating magnets and thecontrolling devices Whereby each magnet may be energized by theoperation ot' a controlling device in each series, and the circuitconnections through one series of controlling devices being such thatthe magneto-motive torce of the magnets When energized by the operationot such controlling devices Will be greater than when energized hy theope-ration ot the control-- ling devices of the other series. :lt alsodiffers from the apparatus oi" said Patent llo. 753,809 in thearrangement of the resistance varying means for the key operatingcircuits that the resistance coils are stationary and the contact rodsor terminals are moved relatively thereto, instead ot having theresistance coils moved as in said Patent No. 753,809, the presentapparatus in this respect resembling that ot my pending application No.369,520. lt Will be understood that an actual apparatus Would beprovided with pedal operating magnets and controlling devices andconnections therefor, With an automatic circuit beralting device andmeans for controlling the position of the bridge Bil, and With suitableWinding and rewinding mechanism for the music sheet including a suitablemotor tor driving the same, as in said Patent No. 753,809.

Fig. 2 shoivs a. portion of a perforated music sheet for use in anapparatus such as is shovvn in Fig. l. The music sheetJ ot which aportion is represented in vthis ligure may be considered as divided intotivo main longitudinal Zones, the one A comprising the portion ot thesheet between the lett hand edge of the sheet and the dotted line f andthe other B comprising the portion .f the sheet between the dotted lineg and the dotted line 7i'. ln the portion of the sheet forming the Zoneit are cnt the perforations 'for controlling the operation of thecontrolling devices of the series A of the transmitting or controllinglapparatus shovvn in Fig. l, these pertorations being arrangi-rdtransversely oic the sheet according to the tones to be sounded throughthe operation of the controlling devices ot the series A ot thetransmitting or controlling mechanism, and the relative positions oipertorations for causing the production ot particular tonescorresponding to the relative positions of the corresponding controllingdevices of the series fi. ln the portion ot the sheet forming the Zone Bare cut the pertoi-ations for controlling the operation oit thecontrolling devices of the series B oit the controlling or transmittingmechanism, these per-iterations being arranged transversely oit thesheet according to the tones to be sounded through the operation ot thecontrolling devices of the series B and the relative arrangement of thepcrtorations tor causing the production of particular tonescorresponding to the relative arrangement ot the correspondingcontrolling devices of the series B. Tones produced through theinstrumentality oi the perfor-ations in the Zone B of the music sheetWill, therefore, be accented or will be louder than the tones producedthrough the instrumentality ot the perforations 'formed in the Zone A ofthe music sheet. ln the particular example sho-Wn in 2, the pertorationsin the acne B are those corresponding to and causing the production ofthe 'tones forming the theme or air ot the composition, such tones beingthe same tones as are represented by the accented notes in the music asWritten at the bottom of the sheet according to the usual system ofmusical notation, and the perte-rations in the Zone fr are thosecorresponding to the accompaniment or remaining portion of thecomposition, such tones being represented by the unaccented notes in themusic as Written at the bottom of the sheet. rThe portion of the sheetbetween the do-tted line 7L and the right hand edge of the sheet in theexample shown forms an additional Zone C giving space for perfor-ationscorresponding to the extra controlling devices of the transmitting orcontrolling' apparatus to the right of the series B and including theContact tingers 32C for the resistance controlling magnets l?, FM and l?and other expression controlling devices, such as pedal controllingdevices, etc., With Which the transmitting or controlling apparatus Willbe provided.

lWhile the controlling devices of the tivo series and B of thecontrolling or transmitting mechanism are preferably arranged as shownin Fig. l in order corresponding to the series of keys of the piano, itwill be understood that this arrangement of the controlling devices ofthe tivo series may be varied as desired, and the relative positions otthe pertorations in the tvvo zones A and B ot the music sheet will becorrespondingly varied. lt Will be understood also that the invention soYfar as it relates to the automatic playing apparatus, is not to belimited in its broader aspect to the particular style of apparatusshown, and that so tar as the invention relates to the music sheet, itis not to be limited to a music sheet intended for use With anyparticular style or class of sheet controlled automatic playingapparatus.

What is claimed is:

l. ln a sheet-controlled automatic playing apparatus for musicalinstruments, the combination of a series of operating devices toroperating the tone-producing devices of the musical instrument, a seriesof controlling devices positioned to be controlled by perforations inone longitudinal zone of the music-sheet for controlling the operationot said operating devices to cause the production of tones of normalloudness, and a second series ot' controlling devices positioned to becontrolled by perforations in another longitudinal zone of the musicsheet for controlling the operation of said operating devices forproducing tones louder than those produced through the operation of thecontrolling devices of the first series and automatically operatedmovable devices to simultaneously vary the operation of both series ofcontrolling devices.

In. sheet controlled automatic playing apparatus :tor musicalinstruments, the combination of a series of operating magnets foroperating the tone-producing devices of the musical. instrument, aseries of controlling devices positioned to be controlled by perorationsin one longitudinal zone of the music sheet to cause said operatingmagnets to be energized, and a second series of controlling devicespositioned to be controlled by perforations in another longitudinal zoneof the music sheet to cause said operating magnets to be energized, asource of electrical energy, connections therefrom to said series ofcontrolling devices whereby the magneto-motive force of the operatingmagnets When energized through the operation of the controlling devicesof the second series is greater than when energized through theoperation of the controlling devices of the irst series.

3. In a sheet controlled automatic playing apparatus for musicalinstruments, the combination of a series of operating magnets foroperating the tone-producing devices of the musical instrument, a seriesof circuits for energizing said operating magnets, a series ofcontrolling devices positioned to coperate With perforations in onelongitudinal zone of the music sheet to close said circuits, a secondseries of circuits for energizing said magnets, a second series ofcontrolling devices positioned to cooperate With perforations in anotherlongitudinal zone of the music sheet to close the circuits of saidsecond series, and means for supplying to the circuits of the secondseries current of greater strength than is supplied to the circuits ofthe first series.

4. In a sheet controlled automatic playing apparatus for musicalinstruments, the combination of a series of operating magnets foroperating the tone producing devices of the musical instrument, a seriesof circuits for energizing said operating magnet-s, a series ofcontrolling devices for cooperating with the music sheet to close saidcircuits, a second series of circuits for energizing said operatingmagnets, a second series of controlling devices for coperating with themusic sheet to close the circuits of said second series, means forsupplying to the circuits of the second series current of greaterstrength than is supplied to the circuits of the first series, aresistance device in each ol" said circuits, and means for varying theresistance of said resistance-devices simultaneously.

In a sheet-controlled automatic playing apparatus for musicalinstruments, the combination of a series of operating magnets, a seriesof circuits for energizing said magnets, a circuit-closer in each o1'said circuits adapted to be controlled by the music sheet, a contactmember adapted to be engaged by said circuit closers, a second series ofcircuits for energizing said magnets, a circuit closer in each of thecircuits of said second series adapted to be controlled oy the musicsheet, a second contact member adapted to be engaged by thecircuit-closers of said second series of circuits, and means a to supplythe circuits of the second series with current ot' greater strength thanis supplied to the circuits of the first series whereby one series ofcircuits Will supply a current of higher voltage than the other.

6. In an automatic playing apparatus, the combination With the operatingmagnets, of two groups of circuit controlling devices for said magnets,a source of electrical energy, a common return connection from theoperating magnets to the source of electrical energy, a commonconnection from each of the groups of circuit controlling devices todifferent potential points of the source of electrical energy to supplycurrents of different voltages to the operating magnets, the two groupsof controlling devices being connected in parallel to the operatingmagnets, a perforated music sheet, the perforations of which arearranged in longitudinal zones corresponding with the groups ofcontrolling devices, whereby said music sheet serves to vary the voltageof the current transmitted to the operating magnets, substantially asdescribed.

7. An automatic playing apparatus for musical instruments comprising, incombination, operating magnets to operate the sound-producing devices ofthe instrument, two series of circuit controlling devices for saidmagnets, a source of electrical energy, a common return connection fromsaid magnets to the source of electrical energy, a connection from eachof the series of controlling devices to different potential points ofthe source of electrical energy, the connecti ons from the controllingdevices to the operating magnets being connected in parallel, aperforated music sheet, the perforations of which are located in zonescorresponding with the arrangement of said series of controlling devicesto vary the voltage of the currents to the operating magnets, aresistance in each connection from the two series of controlling devicesto each operating magnet, resistance magnets, armatures therefor,connections to the arma tures to vary the resistance in each of the saidconnections to the operating magnets, connections from the source ofenergy to said resistance controlling magnets, said music sheet having athird Zone of perforations to control the ope 'ation of the resistancecontrolling magnets, whereby the current supplied to the operatingmagnets may be simultaneously varied, as described.

8. In a sheet controlled automatic playing apparatus 'for musicalinstruments, the combination of a series of operating magnets, a seriesof circuits 'for energizing said magnets, a circuit-closer in each ofsaid circuits, a series of controlling devices adapted to cooperate withpertorations in one longitudinal zone oi the music sheet to control theyoperation oi said circuit closers, a second trol the operation of thesaid last mentioned circuit closers, means for supplying to the circuitsof the second series current ot' greater strength than is supplied tothe circuits of the lirst series, a perforated music sheet having itsnote perforations divided into two sets located in different longitudinal Zones ot the sheet, the perforations ot one set being positionedto cooperate with the second. series of controlling devices for causingthe production of accented tones, and the pertorations of the other setbeing positioned to coperate Vith the lirst series of controllingdevices, and means for snpporting the music sheet as it is ted past thecontrolling device.

In testimony whereof, I have hereunto set my hand, in the presence oftwo subscribing Witnesses;

JQHN F. KELLY.

Vitncsses ELIZABETH G. FARRELL, GEORGE P. Rions.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for ve cents each, byaddressing'the Commissioner of Patents. Washington, D. C.

